Chapter 31: Eve of the Clan Annihilation
In the evening, Qianye changed into casual clothes.
He arrived at the Ninja School on time to pick up Uchiha Izumi.
"Have you been waiting long?" This was the first thing Uchiha Izumi said when she saw Qianye.
At this time, Uchiha Izumi, though not yet fully grown, was already graceful and slender. Her long black hair reached her waist, smooth and unadorned, looking very neat. She wore a light purple, high-collared one-piece dress, with delicate features, fair skin, and a perpetually warm smile that seemed to touch one's soul.
"Not really, I just got here," Qianye replied, raising his right hand. Amidst the envious gazes of many students at the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Izumi naturally handed him her backpack, and they walked side-by-side.
"Time passes so quickly, six years have gone by in a blink of an eye," Uchiha Izumi sighed.
"Indeed, and you're almost graduating, aren't you?" Qianye smiled slightly, casually asking, "Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"
"Mmm," Uchiha Izumi pondered briefly, then naturally linked her arm through Qianye's, her small face slightly flushed as she said, "Probably be a bride."
She recalled the first time she met Qianye. That night, the Nine-Tailed catastrophe descended, her father died, her mother died, and her heart was filled with confusion and helplessness.
In that critical moment, it was Qianye who, without hesitation, pulled her out of an alley that could have been buried by rubble at any moment, leading her to safety.
To this day, that youthful figure remains vivid in her mind, impossible to forget.
More than six years have passed in a flash. Qianye has grown up, and the two have gradually come together.
Perhaps living like this forever wouldn't be so bad.
Qianye paused, then smiled slightly, whispering in a voice only they could hear, "Then I'll be your groom."
Uchiha Izumi froze, her cheeks reddening even more, until a blush spread to her neck. Her pretty face pressed against Qianye's arm, everything unsaid.
Soon after, Qianye and Uchiha Izumi returned to Uchiha Izumi's home.
As Uchiha Itachi had said, no sooner had they entered the house than an Uchiha Clan Ninja came knocking.
"Itachi-kun?" Uchiha Izumi looked at the visitor with some surprise.
It was none other than Uchiha Itachi himself.
Uchiha Itachi nodded expressionlessly, his gaze turning to Qianye, "Qianye, my father wants to see you."
"I understand," Qianye looked at Uchiha Izumi, "Izumi, I'll be back soon."
"Then come back before dinner," Uchiha Izumi didn't know why the Clan Head wanted to see Qianye, but she didn't ask further.
Qianye gave her a reassuring smile, gently ruffled Uchiha Izumi's hair, and followed Uchiha Itachi out of the house.
Next, Qianye followed Uchiha Itachi to his home, where he met Uchiha Fugaku, the most beautiful wife Uchiha Mikoto, and Sasuke, who had just returned from school.
After some discussion, it was finally decided that Qianye would marry into the Uchiha Clan.
At the same time, as an exchange of interests, Qianye needed to gather intelligence for the Uchiha Clan.
Time quickly advanced to the eve of the clan annihilation.
Konoha Village, Land of Fire.
At this time, the sun was already setting.
But the entire Uchiha Clan compound in Konoha was emanating an unusual aura.
Following Uchiha Shisui's suicide more than a year ago, the Uchiha Clan's dissatisfaction with the Konoha higher-ups grew, reaching a point where an explosion was imminent.
A coup d'état was inevitable.
And at this moment, within a secret meeting room in the Hokage Building.
Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Utatane Koharu—the Konoha F4 members—sat high at the leadership table.
Below them was Uchiha Itachi, dressed as an Anbu Ninja, kneeling on one knee.
Uchiha Itachi's head was bowed, his face obscured by shadow, as if having made a momentous decision. He spoke in a low but respectful voice, "In three days, the Uchiha Clan plans to launch a coup d'état in Konoha on the day of the family festival."
Upon hearing this, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances, a hint of solemnity in their eyes.
"The situation is urgent. We must act first before they make their move," Danzo Shimura, who had always harbored animosity towards the Uchiha Clan, spoke first, addressing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"The Uchiha are former comrades. I wish to resolve this through communication, not by resorting to force. I will find a way."
Hiruzen Sarutobi displayed a look of extreme distress, wanting a peaceful resolution. But while he said so, he offered no concrete plan.
"Hiruzen..." Upon hearing this, Danzo Shimura wanted to say something more, but he was silenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, which seemed to say, "Enough, Danzo, I am the Hokage."
Considering that Uchiha Itachi, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado were also present, Danzo Shimura couldn't openly react, so he secretly thought to himself, "Hiruzen, you will definitely regret this."
"Itachi. You may go now," Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh, speaking to Uchiha Itachi.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Uchiha Itachi gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a grateful look, put on his Anbu mask, and turned to leave.
Watching where Uchiha Itachi had disappeared, Utatane Koharu turned her head to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hiruzen, what do you plan to do?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I don't know yet, but I think there will always be a way."
In reality, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't care about the Uchiha Clan at all.
What he truly cared about was Konoha, and his position as Hokage.
On one hand, if he were to rashly go to war with the Uchiha Clan, even if they won, Konoha would undoubtedly be severely weakened.
Then, as Uchiha Shisui said before his death, other countries would take the opportunity to invade, initiating the Fourth Shinobi World War.
On the other hand, as Hokage, beloved by all the people of Konoha, he had to always remain in the light.
If he were to casually order the massacre of a clan, then his time as Hokage would be over.
Therefore, there had to be a scapegoat.
And the obvious scapegoat was naturally his good old friend, Danzo.
He believed that with his old friend's insidious methods, there were a hundred ways to deal with the Uchiha Clan without starting a war.
Sure enough, no sooner had Hiruzen Sarutobi's words fallen than Danzo Shimura jumped out, "So, that means you don't have a solution right now, correct?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply, showing a look of helplessness, took out his pipe, lit it, and took a deep puff, silently assenting.
Seeing this, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado knew that they couldn't rely on Hiruzen Sarutobi now, and this matter indeed wasn't suitable for him, as Hokage, to handle directly.
So, with an unspoken understanding, they looked at Danzo, "Danzo, do you have any countermeasures?"
"Leave this matter to me," Danzo's lips curled slightly, already having a plan in mind.
Since the Uchiha Shisui incident, his right Sharingan had not yet received a new replacement. He had no choice but to use one of the few remaining ones from his right arm, which had First Generation Cells transplanted into it. Now, he was waiting for the Uchiha to provide him with new Sharingan.
PS: Second update, please give recommendation votes, please give monthly passes.